Lukas Valihrach, PhD

Biography

I am a senior researcher in Laboratory of Gene Expression at Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. I received PhD at University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, Czech Republic and I worked as an intern in Denmark and Sweden. My long-term interest is analysis of single-cell gene expression using RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR. I am also active in method development and implementation (see our Two-tailed technology for analysis of short RNAs). My primary research focus is on glial cells and their role under pathophysiological conditions. I am involved in the projects focused on the analysis of experimental ischemic stroke and spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Alexander disease. In addition to research, I enjoy training young students and learning new things. When not in lab, I love spending time with my wife, daughters and overactive dog, running in the mountains and occasionally partying with friends;)

Team

• Pavel Abaffy - postdoc
• Denisa Kirdajová - postdoc
• Sarka Benesova - PhD student
• Zuzana Matusova (Benesova) - PhD student
• Ruslan Klassen - PhD student
• Daniel Zucha - PhD student
• Dominika Dostalova - PhD student
• Eva Rohlova - technician
• Matous Laitl - Bc student
• Viktorie Hanušová - Bc student
• Magdaléna Rýdlová - Bc student

Projects

• GA24-12028S     Constructing the Developmental Atlas of Alzheimer’s Disease using Cerebral Organoids and Single-Cell Transcriptomics. 2024-2026.
• GA24-11364S     Humanized organoid-based platform for stroke modelling and mRNA-based therapeutic intervention. 2024-2026
• GA23-05327S     Astrocyte-microglia communication as a target for stroke therapy. 2023-2025.
• GA23-06269S     Disturbed regulation of mTOR signaling in glial cells following cerebral ischemia. 2023-2025.
• GA22-10660S     The role of Meis transcription factors in mesenchymal condensations during formation of the cranium. 2022-2024.
• NU21-08-00286  Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers for evaluating the severity of acute spinal cord injury. 2021-2024.
• EJPRD19-256     ALEXANDER - The astrocyte nanofilament system in Alexander disease – from molecules to function, uncovering new leads for therapy. 2020-2022.
• GA20-05770S     The role of glial TRPV4 channels in brain edema formation and post-ischemic regeneration. 2020-2022.
• GA19-02046S     Glial cells- the key players in the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 2019-2021.
• GA18-21942S     MicroRNA in central nervous system injury: potential roles and therapeutic implications. 2018-2020.
• GA17-04034S     Principal signaling pathways regulating NG2 glia proliferation and differentiation following brain injuries. 2017-2019.
• GA16-10214S     Age-related changes in brain diffusivity, extracellular matrix composition and glial physiology - impact on pathogenesis of ischemia. 2016-2018.
• GA13-02154S     Gene expression profiling and functional characterization of glial cell subpopulations following ischemic brain injury. 2013-2016.

Collaborations

• Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Department of Neuroregeneration, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Department of Developmental Biology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences
• Laboratory of Astrocyte Biology and CNS Regeneration, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden
• Laboratory of Regenerative Neuroimmunology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden
• Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Netherlands
• Department of Experimental Biology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
• Stem Cell Center, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden

Technology Development

• Two-tailed RT-qPCR: RT-qPCR system for miRNA quantification (WO2016027162A3). Developed in collaboration with TATAA Biocenter, licensed to Roche and BioVendor. For more see https://two-tailedpcr.com/.

Editorial Board Membership

• Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience: Non-Neuronal Cells

Selected Publications

1. Spatiotemporal transcriptomic map of ischemic brain injury. Zucha D, Abaffy P, Kirdajova D, Jirak D, Anderova M, Kubista M, Valihrach L. BioRxiv 2023.03.28.534553; doi: 10.1101/2023.03.28.534553.
2. NEUROD1 reinforces endocrine cell fate acquisition in pancreatic development. Bohuslavova R, Fabriciova V, Smolik O, Lebrón-Mora L, Abaffy P, Benesova S, Zucha D, Valihrach L, Berkova Z, Saudek F, Pavlinkova G. Nat Commun. 2023 Sep 9;14(1):5554. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41306-6. IF = 16.6.
3. Complement C3a treatment accelerates recovery after stroke via modulation of astrocyte reactivity and cortical connectivity. Stokowska A, Aswendt M, Zucha D, Lohmann S, Wieters F, Moran Suarez J, Atkins AL, Li Y, Miteva M, Lewin J, Wiedermann D, Diedenhofen M, Torinsson Naluai Å, Abaffy P, Valihrach L, Kubista M, Hoehn M, Pekny M, Pekna M. J Clin Invest. 2023 Mar 30:e162253. doi: 10.1172/JCI162253. IF = 19.456.
   
4. ISL1 is necessary for auditory neuron development and contributes toward tonotopic organization. Filova I, Pysanenko K, Tavakoli M, Vochyanova S, Dvorakova M, Bohuslavova R, Smolik O, Fabriciova V, Hrabalova P, Benesova S, Valihrach L, Cerny J, Yamoah EN, Syka J, Fritzsch B, Pavlinkova G. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Sep 13;119(37):e2207433119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2207433119. IF = 12.779.
5. Small RNA-Sequencing for Analysis of Circulating miRNAs: Benchmark Study. Androvic P, Benesova S, Rohlova E, Kubista M, Valihrach L. J Mol Diagn. 2022 Jan 23:S1525-1578(22)00011-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2021.12.006. IF = 5.568.
6. Transient astrocyte-like NG2 glia subpopulation emerges solely following permanent brain ischemia. Kirdajova D, Valihrach L, Valny M, Kriska J, Krocianova D, Benesova S, Abaffy P, Zucha D, Klassen R, Kolenicova D, Honsa P, Kubista M, Anderova M. Glia. 2021 Jul 27. doi: 10.1002/glia.24064. IF = 8.073.
7. Decoding the transcriptional response to ischemic stroke in young and aged mouse brain. Androvic P, Belov Kirdajova D, Tureckova J, Zucha D, Rohlova E, Abaffy P, Kriska J, Anderova M, Kubista M, Valihrach L. Cell Rep. 2020 Jun 16;31(11):107777. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107777. IF = 9.423.
8. Performance Comparison of Reverse Transcriptases for Single-Cell Studies. Zucha D, Androvic P, Kubista M, Valihrach L. Clin Chem. 2019 Nov 7. pii: clinchem.2019.307835. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2019.307835. IF = 8.327.
9. Circulating miRNA analysis for cancer diagnostics and therapy. Valihrach L, Androvic P, Kubista M. Mol Aspects Med. 2019 Oct 18:100825. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2019.10.002. IF = 14.235.
10. Two-tailed RT-qPCR: a novel method for highly accurate miRNA quantification. Androvic P, Valihrach L, Elling J, Sjoback R, Kubista M. Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Sep 6;45(15):e144. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkx588. IF = 11.147.

Invited Lectures

• 7th Gene Quantification Event qPCR dPCR & NGS 2017
• Single Cell Europe Conference 2018
• 7th European Stroke Conference - ESOC 2021
• 3rd International Symposium on Microgenomics 2021
• 13th Conference of the Czech Neuroscience Society 2021
• 1st 10x genomics experience meeting 2022
• 10x Genomics 2022 MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA User Group Meeting
• 10th Gene Quantification Event 2023
• 14th Conference of the Czech Neuroscience Society 2023
• NextGen Omics 2023
• BIOCEV Regeneration III

Media

• vzacni.cz, idnes.cz, studio6, nature.com, tyden.cz, chemagazin.cz